The Department seeks to sustain and develop a vibrant research culture through a range of research and exchange activities. We host visiting students who wish to contribute to and participate in the work of the Department and who have the support of an academic mentor in the Department. Visiting students can be associated with the Department in general or with one of our research centres. Visiting students have the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of activities and are expected to participate in and contribute to the collaborative research culture of the Department in consultation with their department mentor.

The Department aims to assist visiting students to:

  • Develop and promote links with other academic departments in the UK and overseas
  • Provide doctoral students with the opportunity to work with leading academics and professionals

Eligibility

The Department welcomes applications from graduate students seeking to immerse themselves in all that Oxford has to offer. Please note that in order to participate in Department activities visitors must hold either a passport from an EU country or a Tier 5 Work Permit for Temporary Workers under the Government authorised exchange category. Those who hold a Visitor visa may undertake private study and research only while here, and may not contribute to University projects or activities or participate in collaborative work with University employees. The Tier 4 Student Work Permit category visa is not suitable for visiting students because the applicant will not be coming to the University to undertake a course of study, but rather will continue work on a programme administered elsewhere. Therefore visiting students may apply for a visa under the Special Visitor: Visiting Student category for up to six months, or under the Tier 5 "Government authorised exchange" category, as above. Non European Union nationals must contact us well in advance of the proposed visit in order to discuss work permit/visa arrangements, and to allow time for the application process. If you require a Tier 5 work permit the Department will need to assist with the submission of your application.

Please note that a tourist visa is not acceptable proof of a right to be in a workplace in the UK under the current UKBA legislation.

Duration

There is no minimum period of stay but it should be borne in mind that visits of less than a month are unlikely to allow immersion in all that Oxford has to offer, especially when the stay falls wholly outside term time. It is therefore advisable to plan to come for at least a whole term as this is when most events take place and when colleagues are most likely to be available. (Dates of university terms)

Department Provision

  • Workspace will be provided in the department's open plan area with either a fixed pc or a laptop port, according to individual requirements, together with IT facilities and support
  • Library access
  • Access to general seminars and lectures and individual classes with the approval of the class teacher and providing approval has been given by the Departmental Administrator in those instance where a fee may be payable
  • An academic mentor

The Department Mentor

It is essential for the visiting student to have identified and corresponded with an academic mentor who is a full member of the Department before submitting his/her formal application. The Department mentor must be an established member of the academic staff in a relevant field. The Department mentor will help the visiting student to get the most from his/her stay. Before agreeing to act in this capacity, prospective mentors should note that they are expected to:

  • Communicate with the visiting student in advance of a formal application to visit the Department
  • Play a leading role in the introduction of the visiting student into the Department, including providing introductions to relevant academic colleagues and other graduate students, and informing him/her of activities of interest (open seminars, workshops, informal gatherings), and providing contacts and guidance for the duration of the visit
  • Ensure that those visitors undertaking fieldwork whilst under the University's duty of care meet the Departmental Administrator at the earliest opportunity to complete the risk assessment

The academic mentor will not provide formal academic supervision.

 

 

Finance

The Department does not provide financial assistance of any sort to visiting students, unless the student has obtained a formal visiting studentship grant which is managed through the department. The university requires visiting students to pay a fee which contributes to the costs incurred by the department hosting the visitor. The charges for 2011/12 are £6,350 per annum, pro rata.

Visiting students are therefore encouraged to apply for research funding schemes through their home institution in parallel with the application to visit Oxford.

Visitor Profiles, Reporting and Feedback

Visiting students will be asked to provide the Department before they arrive with a short biography and a statement of what they intend to do during their visit; this information will be posted on the department's website (and on that of the relevant research centre), if appropriate.

Visitors will be asked to meet the Departmental Administrator early in their visit, and participate in departmental and building induction sessions when available. At the end of their stay, visiting students and their mentors will be asked to provide a brief activity report to be attached to their web profile and to be used in the Department's annual report. This should give an account of activities and outputs and how they have contributed to the Department's research during the visit. Feedback is always welcome, and will be sought from both visitor and mentor at the end of the stay.

Application

Before completing an application form, prospective visiting students need to identify and contact a full member of the department willing to act as their mentor. Prospective visiting students should discuss with their mentor the opportunities for contributing to the Department in their area of research and include this on their application form. Applicants must also indicate whether their research might be best placed in one of the Department's research centres, and if so, which one.

Applicants must provide:

  • A completed application form (.doc) (.pdf)
  • A current cv
  • A letter of support from a full member of the department willing to act as an academic mentor

Email your application to enquiries@sociology.ox.ac.uk. You should submit your application as far in advance as practicable - at least a term's notice is best. Applicants will then receive communication from the department in sufficient time before the visit to make the necessary arrangements.